business ‘very fortunate’; downtown owner works despite blaze next door

Nov. 11--Joyce Williams, the owner of New Evergreen, was thankful Saturday that she was able to return to work despite the fire that destroyed the vacant shop next to her business.

"We were very fortunate, very, very blessed. A guardian angel was looking out for us because we just sustained water damage," she said. "I've had a lot of regular customers calling to make sure everything was OK, and they had everyone in prayer last night."

Firefighters rushed to Russell Street on Friday night to extinguish the blaze at the building between New Evergreen and Dean's Ltd. The blaze destroyed the small building and exposed the old, hidden "Adden's Camera" sign.

The fire is still under investigation, according to Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Lt. Col. Ed Conner.

Conner noted that Dean's Ltd. has water and smoke damage.

"I do know, after speaking with Mr. George Dean, that his insurance assessor will be on site Monday. I know he is closed until further notice," Conner said.

New Evergreen is operating under normal business hours.

Williams said she was in her store helping a customer when she learned of the fire.

"I came back to help a customer look for a dress. They needed something for today. We were in here. At 7:30 p.m. when we came we smelled smoke, but we didn't see anything," she said.

"Then, we were in here and someone notified us at the door that there was fire next door. That's when I went out, and I think they'd already called 911, but I went ahead and called 911," Williams said.

Williams stated that her store did have some water damage and that her heater is not working.

The cause of the fire hasn't been determined yet.

"Everybody's speculating that it's electrical in that empty building, that's all we know. No one has come to confirm anything yet," she said.

Williams was in her store Saturday, with the open sign brightly lit in her window. She was glad that her store did not have extreme damage.

She praised the first responders who were on hand to handle the fire.

"It was just a matter of letting the firemen and police just do their work to get everything done. They did a very good job. I commend them," she said.

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